Topic Wiki

Please post your questions in the correct thread. This thread, as the title clearly states, is for general Hawaii questions only.

If you have any questions that pertains to a particular island, post it in the appropriate island thread. See below for links to all island threads.

You'd get far better answers there, and chances are that your issue was already discussed at length too.

DansMeals: Hawaii For The Kosher Traveler:
-Part 1: General Info And The Island Of Oahu
-Part 2: The Big Island of Hawaii
-Part 3: Maui
-Part 4: Kauai

Related DD Posts:
-Ultimate Hawaii Mileage Chart and Everything You Need to Know About the Hawaiian Islands (2015)
-Trip Notes: Maui No Ka ‘Oi (2014)
-Trip Notes Kauai: Heaven On Earth (2014)
-The Hawaiian Islands. (2011)
-Traveling To Hawaii…With A 5 Month Old (2011)
-View From The Room (2011)
-Pearl Harbor…70 Years (2011)
-Shaloha! (2011)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Kauai (2009)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Oahu (2009)
-Which Miles To Use To Fly To Hawaii?

Related DDF Destination Threads:
-Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
-Kauai Master Thread
-Maui Master Thread
-Oahu Master Thread
-Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau, Hawaii Master Thread

Background on Hawaiian Islands
You've probably heard of Honolulu. That's the state capital and is located on island of Oahu, the main island with the largest airport. Honolulu hosts the famous Waikiki Beach and if you look at pictures, it looks like Miami. One long beach with a strip of hotels. Most DDFers say to go to one of the other 3 main islands which are less touristy and the hotels are more spread out. In no particular order, the other islands are Maui, Kauai and Hawaii (yes, that's the name of one of the islands. It's also known as The Big Island - confusing because Big Island sounds like it's the "Main Island", but Oahu is the main island). Direct flights from NYC only go to HNL. You can get direct flights from other cities (LAX, SFO, OAK, SJC, SAN, DEN, DFW, PHX, SEA, ORD as examples) to the other islands. Hawaii is amazing - have fun! The main airport codes are:
Oahu: HNL
Maui: OGG
Kauai: LIH
The Big Island: KOA, ITO (2 airports on 2 different sides of the island)

Interisland flights:
Hawaiian is the main interisland carrier and flies HNL, LIH, OGG, KOA, and ITO. They have countless flights each day and are nearly always on time - often even early. Never book a tight connection hoping that the interisland flight will be delayed.

Go and Island Air fly from HNL. Mokulele flies from HNL and KOA, as well as to Kapalua (JHM), Hana (HNM), Molokai (MKK), Lanai (LNY), and Waimea-Kohala (MUE) on the Big Island. Hawaiian's subsidiary Ohana flies HNL to MKK and LNY.

You can also use 5k AA, 6k UA or 7.5k HA miles each way to fly interisland. You can use 15k DL pesos for a RT interisland. United allows a free stopover on a round-trip, so for instance you can fly HNL-LIH-OGG-HNL for just 12K miles.
HA has several tiers, similar to DL, the lowest tier is the only one that's available using partner miles, but with HA miles you can purchase tickets that are otherwise unavailable for additional miles.

@Yehuda's thoughts on deciding between Kauai and Maui:
Here's a list of the main activities on both islands. Decide what interests you, and then you'll know where to go.

Kauai has what many say to be one of the best hikes in the world - Kalalau Trail. Most people will only do the first part, but it's still very highly regarded. The views atop Waimea Canyon are breathtaking, yet Maui also has breathtaking views at Haleakala. Kauai also has some supposedly awesome off-roading on Miloli'i Ridge Road. Sunset at the 12-mile long Polihale Beach is supposed to be quite the sunset. A helicopter tour of Kauai is generally said to be much better than a heli tour of Maui. If the water is calm, Queen's Bath, which is a natural pool in the ocean you can swim in that's protected from the ocean's force by hardened lava, is SICK, but Maui has the same thing by the Olivine Pools. Kayaking down the Wailua River to "Secret Falls" is supposed to be great as well. Of course, the luxurious, tropical amazingness of the Grand Hyatt Kauai is a huge boost for Kauai, except for its beach, but the great Po'ipu Beach is 5 minutes away.

Maui has the Road to Hana, which is an incredible drive through what feels like a rainforest with tons of opportunities to take small hikes to waterfalls and pools. It's just wow wow wow. Sunrise at the top Haleakala is not to be missed. A boat trip to snorkel by Molokini Crater offers what is supposedly some of the best snorkeling visibility in the world. Warren & Annabelle's Magic Show is supposed to be a great night out. The hotels are also magical, perhaps to a lesser degree than GHK, but the beaches by the main hotels are a big plus over GHK's beach. EDIT: The Grand Wailea in Maui is a gorgeous hotel that rivals the GHK (and its lazy river actually moves as opposed to GHK's ). Add in the fact that its beach (Wailea Beach) is swimmable and doesn't require the albeit short drive to Po'ipu Beach that the GHK does, I'm not sure that the GHK should be a reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Kauai over Maui anymore.

So, pick the types of activities you'd want to do and then you'll have your island. I personally liked Maui better mostly because of the Road to Hana, but to be fair, I did miss out on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai due to weather.
« Last edited by jj1000 on December 25, 2023, 10:30:33 AM »

Author Topic: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?  (Read 485052 times)

Offline Londoner Rebbe

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #320 on: December 11, 2012, 03:07:42 AM »
do you gave any Starwood points? Or Chase UR points?

I have 60k starwoods

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #321 on: December 11, 2012, 11:00:34 AM »
I have 60k starwoods

And I have quite a few Chase UR points.

Offline sky121

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #322 on: December 11, 2012, 11:04:35 AM »
And I have quite a few Chase UR points.


Great, both Starwood and Hyatt ( a transfer partner of Chase UR) have great hotel options.
"Not all who wander are lost"

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #323 on: December 11, 2012, 06:16:39 PM »

Great, both Starwood and Hyatt ( a transfer partner of Chase UR) have great hotel options.

Great! booked into the westin with the spg on Maui and now I need to find a good option with UR points on Kuaui. nay idea?  From 20th jan to 24th Jan.

Thanks

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #324 on: December 11, 2012, 06:17:52 PM »
Great! booked into the westin with the spg on Maui and now I need to find a good option with UR points on Kuaui. nay idea?  From 20th jan to 24th Jan.

Thanks
What about the Hyatt Kauai :) Beautiful rooms and grounds

Offline sky121

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Re: Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #325 on: December 11, 2012, 06:18:17 PM »
Great! booked into the westin with the spg on Maui and now I need to find a good option with UR points on Kuaui. nay idea?  From 20th jan to 24th Jan.

Thanks

How about the Grand Hyatt Kauai at 22,000 points a night?

Or they have a couple of Starwood hotels as well depending on where you'd like to stay on the island.
"Not all who wander are lost"

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #326 on: December 11, 2012, 06:21:51 PM »
Great! booked into the westin with the spg on Maui and now I need to find a good option with UR points on Kuaui. nay idea?  From 20th jan to 24th Jan.

Thanks
Personally I'd use the UR points and stay at Hyatt on Maui and Kauai. SPG is really weak besides for Oahu.

Though it may make sense to sell the UR and just pay for those properties.  Have a Diamond book and also get free kosher brekkie.
Or better yet, pay for the Fairmont Maui, a gem of a property.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #327 on: December 12, 2012, 03:24:54 AM »
Personally I'd use the UR points and stay at Hyatt on Maui and Kauai. SPG is really weak besides for Oahu.

Though it may make sense to sell the UR and just pay for those properties.  Have a Diamond book and also get free kosher brekkie.
Or better yet, pay for the Fairmont Maui, a gem of a property.

Dan,

Would you be kind enough to book me into those properties as a Diamond member?

Thanks!


Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #328 on: December 12, 2012, 11:53:56 AM »
Dan,

Would you be kind enough to book me into those properties as a Diamond member?

Thanks!


PM me.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #329 on: December 30, 2012, 10:37:02 AM »
if i plan on going to hawaii for about a week where should I stay? I have enough chase pts  and it looks like hyatt is the better option vs spg. If im coming from nyc can i tag on another flight from hnl to the smaller islnads? or am i better of staying in hnl area?

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Re: Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #330 on: December 30, 2012, 11:52:50 AM »
if i plan on going to hawaii for about a week where should I stay? I have enough chase pts  and it looks like hyatt is the better option vs spg. If im coming from nyc can i tag on another flight from hnl to the smaller islnads? or am i better of staying in hnl area?

I'd head to Kauai or Maui for the week. You could do both as well.
"Not all who wander are lost"

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #331 on: December 30, 2012, 01:12:11 PM »
It looks like i could fly to maui via lax so its not so bad.. Is that the nicest of all the islands?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #332 on: December 30, 2012, 04:08:23 PM »
All the islands are nice. It depends on what you're after.
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/18475/
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #333 on: December 31, 2012, 12:35:50 AM »
Anyway to get a wiki in this thread? I don't want to read thru all these pages and I don't want to ask a million questions that have been asked a few days ago. Or is everything I need to know in the post on DD?
Hope I'm not asking for too much!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #334 on: December 31, 2012, 08:17:17 AM »
Anyway to get a wiki in this thread? I don't want to read thru all these pages and I don't want to ask a million questions that have been asked a few days ago. Or is everything I need to know in the post on DD?
Hope I'm not asking for too much!

Added links.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #336 on: January 01, 2013, 09:21:37 AM »
Dan, im wondering how i should plan all of this. Im thinking LA for a few days since my wife has never been and we can spend shabbat there easier. Flights from nyc are like $160 so its cheap. Im then thinking to go to the hyatt in kauai for a week.
 I could pay for my flights jfk-lax. Stay at the SLS 12k spg 3 nights. Fly lax-lih using 17.5k 1-way aadvanatge awards each. Then use chase points for the hyatt. Then use 32.5 aadvanatge each for 1-way business back to JFK on AA via LAX.
Am i going about this the right way?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #337 on: January 01, 2013, 09:57:53 AM »
Dan, im wondering how i should plan all of this. Im thinking LA for a few days since my wife has never been and we can spend shabbat there easier. Flights from nyc are like $160 so its cheap. Im then thinking to go to the hyatt in kauai for a week.
 I could pay for my flights jfk-lax. Stay at the SLS 12k spg 3 nights. Fly lax-lih using 17.5k 1-way aadvanatge awards each. Then use chase points for the hyatt. Then use 32.5 aadvanatge each for 1-way business back to JFK on AA via LAX.
Am i going about this the right way?
Unless you're avoiding HI for shabbos for religious reasons then spend the extra days in HI and not LA.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #338 on: January 01, 2013, 10:07:35 AM »
Truth it hard to get to HI on awards for late jan. if i go to LA first it makes the award space from LA. Easier. Plus my wifes never been to LA so its a good chance to go. I am already spending 1 shabbat in hi. I plan on thur to sun am in la and then sun-sun in hi.
Did i break out the points correctly? Is it a good use of points? Lax-lih is an expensive flight (1200) so the 12.5k aadvantage is a steal. The 17.5 business from lih-jfk via lax seems fair as well.
I then plan on usiing 7 free nights at the hyatt for 22k chase pts.
Whats the deal with kosher breakfast at the hyatt? I have platinum status with hyatt.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #339 on: January 01, 2013, 10:32:01 AM »
Not much to do in la. Much better off with three extra days in Hawaii so you can visit kuaui and Maui
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